I read with interest Brian Newton’s recent letter advocating support for a $95 million, 30-year investment in buying and re-starting the experimental coal fired power plant in Healy. He suggested it will keep your electric rates low and look toward the future.

Newton failed to mention the $95 million investment which, if instead was invested in the proven wind resource at Eva Creek near Healy, could provide half as much electricity with no fuel cost and no carbon output. Long term, a $0 fuel charge with a wind farm vs. a fuel charge subject to new regulation and pending carbon taxes is a better deal, but most of the GVEA board and management don’t appear to see this. The only way GVEA said they’d do Eva Creek is if they get a grant. Should we wonder why they don’t find a grant for the coal plant. Oh, darn, I forgot, both the state and feds already provided $315 million for it and still GVEA needs more.

GVEA has continued to raise rates to pay for loans for numerous capital projects in years past, not just the fuel cost. Don’t expect your rates to go down with another coal plant. In fact, the rate not tied to fuel cost just went up again. We still have to pay off loans, including a new one for more than $65 million for regular annual construction and maintenance.

What about an energy efficient appliance replacement program? GVEA could provide a subsidy to ratepayers equal to the reduced consumption across a period of time. But wait, they don’t want electricity usage to go down because they’ll need to raise the service charge again instead of making oil the boogeyman. Is there something wrong with this picture?

It seems hard for the entrenched to visualize a sustainable future. While GVEA’s attempt to get the membership to give up ownership of three-fourths of the utility’s assets a few years ago failed, I bet they could sell us on a 25 megawatt wind farm. Or give you a energy efficient refrigerator.